(QPDX WEEKLY): qPDX on indefinite hiatus; DJ of the Week!

• qPDX on indefinite hiatus!

• DJ of the Week — Wam Bam Ashleyanne!

(QPDX WEEKLY): FOX ALUMS UNITE; Mom becomes Man; BRO; Weekend events; DJ of the week!

George Fox Alums Speak Out Against School’s Anti-Gay Policies!

A Mom Becomes A Man, And A Family Sticks Together!

Proud BRO. Upcoming Benefit Events!

Get ready for a Gaycation, new Trans(It) night, March Madness and the end of the world!

DJ of the week — Bender!

 

(QPDX WEEKLY): Just Out Returns; Marriage in WA; Weekend Galas; DJ of the Week!

BACK: Just Out announces return to publishing!

OFFICIAL: Gov. Gregoire signs Washington’s gay marriage into law!

Gay Skate Feb 20 – ROLL BOUNCE for Portland Black Pride!

PAR-TAY: A weekend of galas, launches, anniversaries, a return to SugarTown!

DJ of the Week — Freaky Outty!

(QPDX WEEKLY): Behind Dipstick; Gladstone Murder; Weekend Events; Drag Race PHOTOS!

BEHIND DIPSTICK: Interview with dating guru Kathy Belge!

SUSPICIOUS: Gladstone police officer already entwined in murder investigation fired for further allegations!

STUMPTOWN: A weekend to get hot and stay Hott for the weekend before V Day!

Photos: First installment of Portland Drag Race season 4!

 

(QPDX WEEKLY): Dominguez Honored: Park Details; Q Cener Merge; Sundance!

Every Thursday, we will post a collection of stories from our Portland Partner site, QPDX.
ENJOY!

ChatPDX’s Ernesto Dominguez receives Youth Leadership Award!

Saturday in the Park seeks logo submissions!

Q Center announces merger with SMYRC!

Ethos announces new queer Executive Director!

2012 Sundance re-cap and queer movies to watch out for!

(OUTscene NW) INTER-view with Portland Playhouse ‘Angels in America’ Director Brian Weaver!

by Alley Hector

As I watched some early rehearsals of the Portland Playhouse’s upcoming production of Angels in America: Part 1, Millennium Approaches, the excitement was palpable. An epic play, Angels seems to be one of the most sought after for actors and directors alike to be a part of. The Playhouse was especially excited to be able to put it on this year, which is its 20th anniversary. I found myself easily swept up in the excitement, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting opening ever since.

(OUTscene NW) Book RE-view: ‘Inverted Gaze’ by Francois Cusset!

by Nicole McDonald

In his new book, Francois Cusset says that: “We need to learn to take the text, turn it over, penetrate it, play with its sex, slip ours into it, follow it to the end of its fine ambivalence, and force it along the way to assume a position.”  Finally a writer who shares the same queer biblio-lust as myself!  With The Inverted Gaze: Queering the French Literary Classics in America, Cusset presents a new addition to the study of queer theory, dissecting the French literary classics from the point of view of what Cusset calls a “QC” or queer critic.

It must be noted that this is not a book for the faint of heart and is a highly academic read.  I have read a few authors who belong to the French canon that Cusset discusses (most notably Proust and Balzac) but I was not nearly as familiar as I would like to be with the authors and works discussed.  I think this book would be most enjoyed by someone who is well versed in the French literary canon.  I could also see it being a valuable resource in an academic setting for a class about queer theory, especially in regards to French texts.

Click Here for More from QPDX. 

(OUTscene NW) INTER-view with Halloween cover band party Wicked Awesome’s creator Freddie Fagula

                                                                                                                    

                                                              by alley hector 

There’s plenty of gay Halloween happenings this weekend but one of the most different and fun is Friday’s Wicked Awesome. This 2 level party features costumed dancing upstairs and a host of amazing cover bands downstairs. Even the music is in the spirit of dressing in disguise! But it’s still awesome, wicked awesome, because it mixes the skills of our local talent with the fun of past pop songs,  and brings together those who like to dance with those who just like to listen. So basically, it’s the Halloween party for everybody. I had an amazing time last year as well as at it’s similar predecessor All Homo’s Eve.


Read MORE at QPDX!

(OUTscene NW) The Blow Pony controversy and who is allowed to use what words!

by Alley Hector
QPDX/OUTscene NW

Our little queer community of Blow Pony organizers, DJs/performers, attendees and others have gotten into a big row this week, and many have been asking me to comment. Truthfully, forming a a clear opinion has been rough. I’m very much still in process about it all, but I do think it is important to address here, so I’m going to start a community conversation. I think it is also important and ok, to admit to having mixed feelings and/or evolve your opinion and I am open to discussion and refutation of my points. I may even change my mind! But I will also acknowledge my process. But this is not about me. It’s about all of us, so mostly I just want to continue the discussion. I want you, as the reader, to feel like this is a safe space to discuss and learn.

(OUTscene NW) PRE-view; The 15th annual Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival opens Friday the 30th with ‘We Were Here’

Photo from Director David Weissmen of Haight Ashbury 1978. 

One might feel compelled to express excitement for the lineup of Portland‘s Annual Lesbian and Gay Film Fest but I am truly and deeply sincere when I say that this year, now 15th of the festival, has me even more excited than the past. There’s isn’t a night where I wouldn’t go out to see 1 or more of the films being shown at Cinema 21, although I am particularly excited about the women in rock anthem Trigger playing Monday night, the high school musical type comedy Mangus, (Wednesday night), and the 2 films showcasing trans young people of different ages Romeos (Sunday afternoon) and Tomboy playing Wednesday.

Friday opening night film (at 7:30pm) is We Were Here, David Weissman’s document of the AIDS crisis in the 80′s in San Francisco. A profound and moving recollection the film talks to those involved in the fight as well as exploring the larger socio-political implications of the beginning of the AIDS era and its affect on the gay community. An official Sundance selection is has also be called one of the best films of the year.

(OUTscene NW) INTER-view with ‘Kids in the Hall’ comedian Scott Thompson!

New QPDX contributor Hans Ryan got a chance to sit and have a telephone conversation with Scott Thompson, the openly gay actor best known for his sketch comedy on Kids in the Hall. He discusses the inanity of his Fruit Blog, how tough it was to be gay in the 90s and how much he loves Portlandia. He is currently on tour with Kevin McDonald performing their new touring stand up show, Two Kids, One Hall. The show plays this Thurs – Sat at the Helium Comedy Club.

Check Out the full interview at QPDX.

(OUTscene NW) Photos from this weekend’s Peep Show with Carmen Carrera

This Friday Red Cap Garage saw a sensual performance by the lovely Miss Carmen Carrera of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as a host of amazing Peep Show characters.

Contributor Lyska Mondor caught some great shots of the night.

Check OUT More at QPDX!

(OUTscene NW-PRE-view) This weekend Some are Sparkles, some are Gaga, some are just Bent on having a Gender Fantasy

Compiled by Alley Hector, QPDX

Friday

Bent featuring Kaj-Anne Pepper’s GenderFantasy – Bent is always a good time. And yesterday’s DJ profile introduced you to one of it’s creators, Roy G Biv. But this week is extra special because you’ll get to see a sneak peek of the talented and homo-performance-contest-winning Kaj-Anne Pepper‘s upcoming show GenderFantasy. Pepper describes it as, “…extreme glamour…a dance pageant exploring physicality, sexuality and power in a post-gender fantasy…The show will feature interactive photo-booths; striking visuals; surreal drag performances; video installations…” The final piece is set to debut this December and you can keep track of the GenderFantasy process and progress on their blog: http://genderfantasy.wordpress.com.

FUNNY: Are you ready for the Awsomazing Show?

Special Thanks to QPDX for posting!

(OUTscene NW) QPDX's INTER-view with Portland Queer Music Festival’s Samuel Thomas!

by Alley Hector

QPDX

Portland may be known for both its music and its queerness but the two have never come together in quite the cohesive way that this Saturday’s Portland Queer Music Festival aims to. A full day and two stages of back to back acts at Red Cap Garage for only 3 bucks is one of the most reasonable prices I’ve ever heard too, in true PDX fashion. Plus, despite the dive drink prices, Red Cap’s bar menu is quite delicious, with that unpretentious but slightly upscale goodness that Portland bars are starting to do so well.

Bands, producers and DJs of multiple genres and genders have come from our own backyards as well as across the country to participate. You can see a lineup of all 30 in an earlier post for just a taste of the days never-ending aural pleasure.

And the man behind it all? That would be Samuel Thomas, director and founder of the Portland FREE Music Project and an organizer of the (nearly) weekly Maricon dance party. This hard workin’ man booked all 30 acts himself. He’s hopeful that the fest will be a success, anticipating over 800 attendees over the course of the day. Here’s what he had to say on the eve of his inaugural summer celebration of queer music.

Click here for the INTER-view.

ATTACK: Man assaulted while trying to stop homophobic assault on gay portlander!

After hearing the amazing news that so far, we have heard of no violence during Portland Pride Northwest 2011, a gay man and another man who came to his aid were assaulted in Northwest Portland this past Saturday, the Portland Tribune reports in an article on their website.

The Oregonian reports that“According to Lt. Robert King, spokesman for the Portland police, a man was walking from a club near the intersection of Northwest Second Avenue and Flanders Street about 2:57 a.m. when he was approached by two men asking for directions. After he gave directions, the man was harassed and called derogatory names because he is gay, King said. A second man who come to his aide was assaulted.”

 Check Out the FULL story at QPDX!

PROTECTION: Portland Police crack down on popular NE queer gathering spot!

The skidmore bluffs. The place for NE PDX queers, cyclists, hipsters and plain old fun loving folk to hang out on breezy summer nights. Ah, the killer view of the train yard, port, industrial district and the mountains and rivers beyond (I’m not joking). The wind in your hair, the noise of trains (and dogs) in your ears. Surrounded by friends and a smattering of bicycles, lovers holding hands, kids in the skatepark, badminton, frisbee, sunsets, and, a nice cold pabst in your hand. Or even, if you like things a little classy, a glass of wine. And maybe, even, a spliff.

Not for much longer. Police are cracking down on activity in the small park at the very western end of NE Skidmore. Is this the end of the bluffs as we know it?

Read More at QPDX!

LAW: Lambda Legal sues state of Oregon to defend health care rights of trans man!

Tuesday, Lambda Legal filed suit against the state of Oregon on behalf of transgender employee Alec Esquivel, who was denied a hysterectomy that was deemed medically necessary by his doctor.

“Alec Esquivel was denied coverage for a medically necessary procedure specifically because he is transgender. This type of discrimination is unlawful and risks the health of hardworking, productive citizens of Oregon,” said Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Attorney at Lambda Legal. “By not covering this procedure, the state is refusing to provide him with the same health care coverage as his co-workers.”

Click Here for more from QPDX!

OUTscene NW: Photos from the 2011 Portland Pride Parade!

So many great shots from Anna M Campbell Photography. There’s a goodly smattering below but you might just want to open the full Flickr slideshow to see all 364 amazing pictures of the Portland Pride Parade. Special Thanks to QPDX for Sharing!

OUTscene: Photos from the Portland Dyke March!

Portland's Dyke March on Saturday, which was actually pretty well attended, despite the rain and the eternal question…what time is the Dyke March?! Our partners, QPDX were there, Click for more Photos!